NikonGear'23

Images => Themes, Portfolio Series, PaW, or PaM => Topic started by: Zang on February 14, 2019, 04:07:18

Title: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 14, 2019, 04:07:18
I love DIY projects. I do not have time for doing that stuffs quite often, though. I would love to see your projects captured in photos. They can but do not need to be related with photography. Below were my attempts with pyrography.

Cheers,
Zang
Title: Re: Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 14, 2019, 08:46:42
Beautiful work, Zang!  What did you use to draw these?  A soldering iron?

Here are my takes.  The first one is an overdrive pedal.  I wrapped the circuit board with a sheet of foam polyethylene to avoid shortage, before the bottom cover is fixed.

The second one is essentially an active 12dB/Oct low-pass filter to make any electric bass sound like a Reggae bass.

(BY the way, you may want to add "[Themer]" in front of the thread title to make it clear that it is an open thread under this particular theme.)
Title: Re: Your DIY projects
Post by: Øivind Tøien on February 14, 2019, 10:45:36
That is some beautiful work, Zang. Fun with DIY projects Akira!

Here is my first project with the open source electronic CAD program KiCad: a signal generator based around a dsPIC microcontroller. As it was a learning project I set up for myself both on the firmware and hardware side, I just designed the board around the existing components I already had on a breadboard, thus I used mostly though hole components instead of surface mount components as in all later projects. In addtion to standard waveforms, it is also able output ECG, EMG and EEG slow wave sleep signals.

(https://otoien.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-3/p3294000135.jpg)

For comparison here is the 3D rendering exported as STEP file from KiCad into open source FreeCad. Through hole components are a lot more fun to render in 3D than surface mount ones.

(https://otoien.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-3/p3294000136.jpg)

Another 3D rendering without the box. The microcontroller is barely visible on the bottom of the board:

(https://otoien.zenfolio.com/img/s/v-3/p3294006628.jpg)
Title: Re: Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 14, 2019, 15:39:44
Beautiful work, Zang!  What did you use to draw these?  A soldering iron?

Here are my takes.  The first one is an overdrive pedal.  I wrapped the circuit board with a sheet of foam polyethylene to avoid shortage, before the bottom cover is fixed.

The second one is essentially an active 12dB/Oct low-pass filter to make any electric bass sound like a Reggae bass.

(BY the way, you may want to add "[Themer]" in front of the thread title to make it clear that it is an open thread under this particular theme.)

Thanks Akira. I used an iron called pyrography pen :) Here was me in action and a couple of other work.

Ps. Title updated. Thanks for the hint.

Title: Re: Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 14, 2019, 15:43:30
That is some beautiful work, Zang. Fun with DUY projects Akira!
...

Awesome work Akira and Øivind! I love electronics, but I did not have a chance to continue this profession! Now, if I decide to play around with soldering, I know who to ask for advice :)

Cheers,
Zang
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Bent Hjarbo on February 14, 2019, 16:24:32
Zhang, your drawing skills are awesome  :)
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 14, 2019, 17:22:19
Zhang, your drawing skills are awesome  :)

Thank you Bent! Prior to these (wood burning) works I had some pencil drawing back in 1992. Before that I was drawing in late 70s, early 80s when I was 10yo. No drawing in-between :) Each time when I draw something, I realize how fast time flies LOL

Cheers,
Zang
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Brute on February 14, 2019, 20:28:04
Very Nice Guy's  8)

Just rebuilt a Radio Flyer Wagon for my Granddaughter's First Birthday. Same wagon my kids played with when they were little.
These are all cell phone photos.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Brute on February 14, 2019, 20:29:56
Now back together.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 14, 2019, 21:27:58
I love these man and I regret I could never make anything like that for my kids. Partly because we spent a long period living in a condo...

Cheers,
Zang
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: CS on February 15, 2019, 00:11:57
That wagon is look'in good!  :)
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 15, 2019, 04:53:22
Thank you Zang and Øivind!

Øivind, your thorough gadged design is amazing!

As expected, the thread is increasingly become nerdy, which I love!!!   ;D

Zhang, your drawing skills are awesome  :)

I totally agree!


Neat job, Brute!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 15, 2019, 05:17:35
A flexible lighting system for closeups using four high brightness LEDs.

It is powered by four AA Ni-MH batteries with external power out puts.  Two power switches enable each paires of LEDs to be switched on/off indipendently.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: ColinM on February 15, 2019, 21:31:29
Excellent work guys (and I’m sure we’ve barely scratched the surface). Next up might be a new section on NG where we can place requests to people with some of the varied skills shown here.

For example, I’m sure there might be a few takers for Akira’s close-up lights.

And if we can suss out a 3D printer, even the kids toys and custom guitar art might be a possibility  ;)
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: the solitaire on February 16, 2019, 09:07:47
I like this theme. DIY is pretty much a philosophy I live by.

This was a DIY project

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1969/30383191377_0c77eac8a8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NhRNgc)DSC_5606 (https://flic.kr/p/NhRNgc) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

With this being my first attempt to make a modern interpretation of traditional scandinavian hunting knives

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1969/30383191377_0c77eac8a8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NhRNgc)DSC_5606 (https://flic.kr/p/NhRNgc) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

The nice thing about taking up the challenge of starting a DIY project in a direction you are unfamiliar with, is that in the process you can learn a lot about history and culture, because, when you dig back deep enough, the history of every craft will start with someone who thought: "I'll do this myself".

My road to making knife handles started with writing rules for a boardgame, which prompted me to make my own dice, which had me look into pip designs, and through there, into scandinavian dice games, scandinavian medieval culture and finally, the tradition of making scandinavian hunting knives.

My next DIY projects will stray a bit from this origin, but more on that topic when my current attempts to bring the efforts of a young and upstarting american knife smith, a tradition rich german bronze caster and the inhabitants of the last ice age together in a new knife design
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Hugh_3170 on February 16, 2019, 11:05:45
Kudos Buddy - I love your choice of wood for the handle and the dice and the grain that you have brought out here.  Wonderful.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: the solitaire on February 16, 2019, 23:59:01
Thank you Hugh, and only now do I see that I posted the wrong link for the 2nd image.

That should have been this one

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1865/44604648161_66317bce05_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aXytTX)DSC_3828 (https://flic.kr/p/2aXytTX) by b j (https://www.flickr.com/photos/132836932@N03/), on Flickr

Yes, the choice of wood and other materials makes or breaks a knife handle. In my philosophy, the knife handle deserves at least as much consideration as the knife blade.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 17, 2019, 03:17:27
For example, I’m sure there might be a few takers for Akira’s close-up lights.

Colin, the LED lighting rig requires no advanced electronics.  The only "electronic" parts used are the LED and the resistors to adjust the current appropiate for the LEDs.  It's really simple.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 17, 2019, 03:22:32
Yes, the choice of wood and other materials makes or breaks a knife handle. In my philosophy, the knife handle deserves at least as much consideration as the knife blade.

Your taste for the choice of woods is proved here, Buddy.  Which wood material did you use for the first knife and the dices?  Bubinga?
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: the solitaire on February 17, 2019, 08:55:28
That is Honduras Palisander burl. Actually, the finest piece of Palisander burl I have ever seen. I had to order that piece, at any price. The grain and color of the raw piece of wood was so exceptional, that I just knew it would turn into a work of art regardless of how bad I messed up the shaping process.

And then I got lucky and found a piece of buffalo horn that, when used the wrong way around, against the "grain" of the horn, would give the lovely pommel that can be seen on this knife.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 17, 2019, 12:03:12
Thank you for the detailes of the wood material.  Hounduras Palisander (Dalbergia stevensonii, also known as Honduras Rosewood) is a well regarded material also for the sides and backs of an acoustic guitar (not the burl, of course).  The burl looks beautiful!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Nasos Kosmas on February 17, 2019, 15:25:11
Very nice diy projects i see here: petals, electronics (my favorite diy 80s, 90s) woods  :D
Akira this   Hounduras Palisander seems to me also Bumbiga that is one of my favorite woods!
My Diy  projects for the last 5-10 years is Guitar-bass making and  really love to do in my free time, all photos Nikon
 
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Fons Baerken on February 17, 2019, 15:41:42
Nasos that's great project.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Jack Dahlgren on February 17, 2019, 17:09:04
Very nice diy projects i see here: petals, electronics (my favorite diy 80s, 90s) woods  :D
Akira this   Hounduras Palisander seems to me also Bumbiga that is one of my favorite woods!
My Diy  projects for the last 5-10 years is Guitar-bass making and  really love to do in my free time, all photos Nikon

Beautiful work Nasos! Though I like to work with wood, I’ve never made a guitar, but I like playing them. Here is an old arch top of mine from the 1940’s in a similar style to your work. Akira pointed out to me that many of the professional musicians he has met are good photographers. I have much work to do on both areas.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2007/2230470564_e981b8a1d2_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/4p6Kc3)
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Hugh_3170 on February 18, 2019, 03:42:16
Ah, thanks Buddy & Akira for fleshing out the botannical details.  I figured that it was a Rosewood of some kind, but did not realise how exotic it was.

Thank you for the detailes of the wood material.  Hounduras Palisander (Dalbergia stevensonii, also known as Honduras Rosewood) is a well regarded material also for the sides and backs of an acoustic guitar (not the burl, of course).  The burl looks beautiful!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 18, 2019, 05:35:14
Very nice diy projects i see here: petals, electronics (my favorite diy 80s, 90s) woods  :D
Akira this   Hounduras Palisander seems to me also Bumbiga that is one of my favorite woods!
My Diy  projects for the last 5-10 years is Guitar-bass making and  really love to do in my free time, all photos Nikon

Nasos, your bar is very high!  Amazing job!  I like hand works in general, and have interviewed varuous luthiers, but never really have tried to make one myself.


Beautiful work Nasos! Though I like to work with wood, I’ve never made a guitar, but I like playing them. Here is an old arch top of mine from the 1940’s in a similar style to your work. Akira pointed out to me that many of the professional musicians he has met are good photographers. I have much work to do on both areas.

Jack, your archtop looks neat.  Love the unique design of the inlays.  Which brand is it of?


Ah, thanks Buddy & Akira for fleshing out the botannical details.  I figured that it was a Rosewood of some kind, but did not realise how exotic it was.

Hugh, as you know, there are a bunch of Rosewood species used for the guitar making.  I have made my own list of the wood species for the instrument making.  It keeps expanding.   :o
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Jack Dahlgren on February 18, 2019, 06:55:09
Jack, your archtop looks neat.  Love the unique design of the inlays.  Which brand is it of?

It is a Kay. They are mostly known for making lower priced guitars and some department store brands. But this is an unusual model for them to try and rival guitars like the Gibson L5. The top is hand-carved spruce (Same method as Nasos shows) and the back and sides are flamed maple. The model number is k62 and it is referred to as the “Television” model. They were made from 1937-1939 so it is at least 80 years old.

Rosewood always makes a nice sound too. I have a small Brazilian rosewood classical guitar from a Japanese luthier, Kuniharu Nobu, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, and an East Indian rosewood Martin that is about 10. There are a few more guitars in the closet which I rarely get around to playing but which have some sentimental attachment so are hard to get rid of.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 18, 2019, 08:22:31
It is a Kay. They are mostly known for making lower priced guitars and some department store brands. But this is an unusual model for them to try and rival guitars like the Gibson L5. The top is hand-carved spruce (Same method as Nasos shows) and the back and sides are flamed maple. The model number is k62 and it is referred to as the “Television” model. They were made from 1937-1939 so it is at least 80 years old.

Rosewood always makes a nice sound too. I have a small Brazilian rosewood classical guitar from a Japanese luthier, Kuniharu Nobu, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, and an East Indian rosewood Martin that is about 10. There are a few more guitars in the closet which I rarely get around to playing but which have some sentimental attachment so are hard to get rid of.

Thank you for the details.  As you say, the "Kay" brand is more familiar as affordable semi-acoustic electric basses to me.  I didn't know that it used to make such luxury models.

As for the acoutsic guitar, Brazilian rosewood was the most common material for the sides and backs until 1968, and if you say "rosewood", it meant Brazilian.  Since the Brazilian government had limited the export of Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), it has become exotic and rare.  Martin replaced the Brazilian with the East Indian for their rosewood models in 1968.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Jack Dahlgren on February 18, 2019, 20:00:10
Thank you for the details.  As you say, the "Kay" brand is more familiar as affordable semi-acoustic electric basses to me.  I didn't know that it used to make such luxury models.

The guitar doesn’t say Kay anywhere on it - as if they wanted to distance themselves from their standard models.
To bring this back to cameras, Leica, Zeiss, and even Nikon have done the opposite and put their premium brand name on mass market outsourced products.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on February 18, 2019, 23:33:41
The guitar doesn’t say Kay anywhere on it - as if they wanted to distance themselves from their standard models.
To bring this back to cameras, Leica, Zeiss, and even Nikon have done the opposite and put their premium brand name on mass market outsourced products.

The pride as an accomplished luthier might have made him to do so.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 18, 2019, 23:58:39
Thank you guys for kind words for my humble work and thanks all for sharing your incredible projects. I am so happy I found this gold mine :) The below was just a very simple project from today :)
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Nasos Kosmas on February 19, 2019, 05:57:52
I forgot to mention Zangs project: pyrography it’s very nice, unice  and related to guitar as I see
I know Kay from a very old spring reverb unit I sow once, rare, the guitar is very old but still in a very playable condition
Thank you for your kind words :)
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on February 19, 2019, 06:21:25
I forgot to mention Zangs project: pyrography it’s very nice, unice  and related to guitar as I see
I know Kay from a very old spring reverb unit I sow once, rare, the guitar is very old but still in a very playable condition
Thank you for your kind words :)

Thanks Nasos! Mine was quite simple. The hardest part was to sand the original finishing off :D
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: ArthurDent on December 13, 2019, 04:27:22
My latest Arduino project, an electronic version of the Magic 8 Ball. Ask a yes/no question, press the button and one of the original 8 ball answers will pop up on the display in random order. There are 20 answers, 10 are positive, 5 negative and 5 ambiguous. I may take it from the breadboard to a finished project and make a few as gifts if I can get my motivation level up a bit. It’s the end of the year, I worked hard this year and I’m not feeling too ambitious at present. Next year I may not have to work as hard, the 8 ball tells me I’m going to win the lotto.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on December 14, 2019, 17:49:18
Cool project Arthur!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on December 28, 2021, 19:19:00
It's been almost three years since my first negative copier  ::)

This is my latest one made last week.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Hugh_3170 on December 29, 2021, 04:36:43
With your setup, you have a ring light pointing away from the camera, but the white reflector sends light back to the slide/negative thereby illuminating it.  If I am correct so far, how uniform is the illumination when it reaches the slide/negative?

One advantage of your setup is that it is more operator friendly than having the light pointing at the camera with attendant light spill into the photographers face & eyes.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on December 29, 2021, 06:47:30
With your setup, you have a ring light pointing away from the camera, but the white reflector sends light back to the slide/negative thereby illuminating it.  If I am correct so far, how uniform is the illumination when it reaches the slide/negative?

One advantage of your setup is that it is more operator friendly than having the light pointing at the camera with attendant light spill into the photographers face & eyes.

Hi Hugh,

The main purpose of the setup is to get decently even lighting. I tested many setups and only this one gives me near perfect even lighting for relatively cheap.

Thanks,
Zang
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Zang on December 29, 2021, 06:49:00
Another wood burning project.
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on November 03, 2022, 18:00:54
I was listening to Bartok’s piano concertos while wiring this DIY loop switcher.  Then I noticed that tha cables had been shaped like Fibonacci series spirals!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Fons Baerken on November 03, 2022, 18:33:12
I was listening to Bartok’s piano concertos while wiring this DIY loop switcher.  Then I noticed that tha cables had been shaped like Fibonacci series spirals!

That must have been a harmonious piece from BB ;)!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on November 03, 2022, 23:18:38
That must have been a harmonious piece from BB ;)!

Very much so.  Bela helped me to do the finishing touch!
Title: Re: [Theme] Your DIY projects
Post by: Akira on November 04, 2022, 09:19:58
Another recent project.  This is a specialized LED array to investigate the internal bracing of acoustic guitars.  The original array consisted of three pairs of white LEDs driven by a single 9V box-type alkaline battery.

Now I decided to power it up and added two more pairs.  In order to provide the necessary current for the total of five pairs of LED array, I employed a DC-DC boot-up converter available cheaply on Amazon and two AA NiMH batteries.

The conversion was successful.  The last image shows how this tool is used: the bracing of this replica of a Rene Lacôte guitar from 19c appears as two dark lines oblique to each other on both sides of the bridge.